Les Chevaliers de Tir Na Nog

While expecting the standard-fare Saban half-hour of cheesy

merchandising, I was pleasantly surprised by the Mystic Knights

of Tir na Nog--Power Rangers this most certainly is /not/. The

costuming is fantastically appropriate, the storylines are based

on true Celtic legends, and the actors are a refreshing change

from the normal appearance-high/talent-poor casts Saban normally

comes up with. While the foley art leaves a little to be

desired, the choreography for the swordfighting is excellent and

a very welcome sight, considering the tendency for kids' action

shows to be merely punch-kick-jab cookie-cutter fare. My

personal kudo? Justin Pierre is not merely the used to make the

cast politically correct--Ivar has a historically accurate place

in the Kell company as a Moorish prince. This is a marvellously

well done show, and I highly recommended it to Celtic fans

I'm confused by Deidre's "armor". (A short skirt and little bitty short sleeves?!? When the guys are covered head to toe?!?) If I were one of the enemy, I'd be aiming my weapons at her legs... but maybe she's wearing mystic stockings?

Also, did I miss something in the first episode? Maeve has said, several times, that her ancestors were cheated out of Kels, and that's why she's fighting to conquer it - if she's wrong, shouldn't somebody have said "Yoo-hoo, they weren't cheated, they lost it in a poker game!" Maybe that's how they'll end the series... the king will show Maeve her great-grandfather's marker, she'll slap her forehead in embarrassment, and call off her troops. :)

It's one of the aspects of Saban productions (cf Power Rangers) that I don't care for - that the villainesses are very strong, emotionally and physically, but the "good" girls are pretty much "yes-women" (that is, telling children that it's *bad* to have your own opinion and fight for what you want, but it's *good* to do what the boys say... it's not far from there to "math is hard, let's make cookies for the boys!").

And perhaps the production crew might think about a different method of putting the beasties on the screen - they're interestingly made, but don't mesh well with the live action.

I remember tuning into this when it first premiered in the fall of 1998, and finding it to be a delightful surprise. It was from the creators of "Power Rangers," and each episode followed the tried-and-true "Power Rangers" formula, but unlike "Power Rangers," it managed to capture a sense of awe and wonder about it. I loved the armour of our Mystic Knights. So elegant. Just like magic armour in this kind of show should be depicted. Too bad that second season never materialized. I would have liked to see more in the Kingdom of Kels.

The Mystic Knights Of Tir-Na-Nog is fantastic. Some of the stories could be better, but I am sure that they will take care of that next season. The actors are really good, the fighting scenes are cool. The creatures could be a bit more lifelike though. All in all I love it! If I had to make a suggestion to the writers I would say, make the scripts for a broader age audience. Now don't get me wrong, I love what they did this season, but more interesting plots would not hurt. The season finale was way cool. I hope that next season starts out with the Knights battling Nemain and Mider. Now THAT would be good!

Yes, I realize this was not too true to Irish mythology, and that it was similar to Power Rangers...but to me, it was closer to the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers than the shows that came after.

I enjoyed the continuing story lines, and the acting. But FOX canceled it - and when they did, they left a cliffhanger. That is one of the most unfair things to do with a kids' series, but maybe they were hoping for the cult following that then develops - sometimes. This time, I guess the cult following wasn't big enough - there were internet petitions and fansites, but the show was never put back on the air.